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Bladesmith #2
Master of Iron
In Master of Iron, the conclusion to Tricia Levenseller's exciting Bladesmith YA fantasy duology, a magically gifted blacksmith with social anxiety must race against the clock to save her beloved sister and stop a devastating war.
Eighteen-year-old Ziva may have defeated a deadly warlord, but the price was almost too much. Ziva is forced into a breakneck race to a nearby city with the handsome mercenary, Kellyn, and the young scholar, Petrik, to find a powerful magical healer who can save her sister's life.
When the events that follow lead to Ziva and Kellyn's capture by an ambitious prince, Ziva is forced into the very situation she's been dreading: magicking dangerous weapons meant for world domination.
The forge has always been Ziva's safe space, a place to avoid society and the anxiety it causes her, but now it is her prison, and she's not sure just how much of herself she'll have to sacrifice to save Kellyn and take center stage in the very war she's been trying to stop.
Eighteen-year-old Ziva may have defeated a deadly warlord, but the price was almost too much. Ziva is forced into a breakneck race to a nearby city with the handsome mercenary, Kellyn, and the young scholar, Petrik, to find a powerful magical healer who can save her sister's life.
When the events that follow lead to Ziva and Kellyn's capture by an ambitious prince, Ziva is forced into the very situation she's been dreading: magicking dangerous weapons meant for world domination.
The forge has always been Ziva's safe space, a place to avoid society and the anxiety it causes her, but now it is her prison, and she's not sure just how much of herself she'll have to sacrifice to save Kellyn and take center stage in the very war she's been trying to stop.
385 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 26, 2022
251 people are currently reading
13674 people want to read
About the author
Tricia Levenseller
20 books17.4k followersInitially from a small town in Oregon, Tricia now lives next to the Rocky Mountains with her bossy dog, Rosy. She received her degree in English Language and editing and is thrilled that she never has to read a textbook again. When she’s not writing or reading, Tricia enjoys putting together jigsaw puzzles, playing volleyball, playing OVERWATCH, and watching shows while eating extra-buttered popcorn.
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December 5, 2021I hope you guys love the cover for this one as much as I do. When I asked the team why the weapon was in water, they informed me that “water is trending.” 😂😂😂 So there.
The book is already copy edited. Nothing left for me to do except first pass pages, where I do one final read through to look for typos. Can’t wait for this one to hit shelves!
The book is already copy edited. Nothing left for me to do except first pass pages, where I do one final read through to look for typos. Can’t wait for this one to hit shelves!
January 18, 2022
i loved the first book in this series for its adventure. a rag-tag team on a mission is one of my favourite tropes, so ‘blade of secrets’ more than delivers on the entertainment front. and even though i dont love this sequel as much as the first installment, its still a pretty great conclusion to the duology.
the reason i didnt enjoy this as much is because of the plot focus. the adventure is done and over with and now the focus is on war and kingdom politics. its not quite my cup of tea personally and bit slower in pace, but i will admit that its a logical direction for the story to go and makes sense based on how the story was building in the first book.
and i found the story to make up for my lack of plot enjoyment in other ways. the world-building is pretty spot-on, the characters are just as amazing to read about, theres some good mental health representation, and the writing itself has an easy, binge-readable quality to it.
so all in all, this book is a nicely wrapped-up ending to a fun and unique series! cant wait to see what TL comes up with next!
a really big thanks to macmillan/feiwel & friends for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
the reason i didnt enjoy this as much is because of the plot focus. the adventure is done and over with and now the focus is on war and kingdom politics. its not quite my cup of tea personally and bit slower in pace, but i will admit that its a logical direction for the story to go and makes sense based on how the story was building in the first book.
and i found the story to make up for my lack of plot enjoyment in other ways. the world-building is pretty spot-on, the characters are just as amazing to read about, theres some good mental health representation, and the writing itself has an easy, binge-readable quality to it.
so all in all, this book is a nicely wrapped-up ending to a fun and unique series! cant wait to see what TL comes up with next!
a really big thanks to macmillan/feiwel & friends for the ARC!
↠ 3.5 stars
December 4, 2025
This sequel was just as cozy, cute, and whimsically adventurous as the first — but with a bit more sparkle, at least for me. Maybe it was the setting (I'm such a castle girlie), but something about this one felt a little more immersive and rich, even if it still didn’t fully steal my heart. 🏰💖✨
📖 Book: Master of Iron
🖋️ Author: Tricia Levenseller
🌟 Rating: 3.75 ✧
💖 Genre: YA Fantasy (high fantasy / romance / magic)
📚 Series: Bladesmith
🌸 Summary: Ziva’s journey continues as she sets out to save her sister, pulling her into a world of magic, danger, new allies, and secrets that shake everything she thought she knew. This book dives deeper into her powers, her relationships, and the emotional walls she’s built — all wrapped up in a high-fantasy adventure full of heart.
♡ What I loved most:
• The castle setting: give me a sprawling high fantasy castle, and I’m happy. Tricia’s descriptions made it easy to sink into that world and just live there for a while 🏰
• New characters with abilities like Ziva’s: it made the world feel broader and more layered 🔮
• Higher stakes: this added tension and a sense of urgency that kept me turning pages 📖⏳
✘ What I didn't love:
• The familiar plot beats: like the first book, the plot followed a fairly familiar path. It was comforting, but I was hoping for a twist or a moment that truly surprised me 🌫️
• The very slow romance: it was so. very. slow. I’m all for a simmer, but this one felt like it never fully bubbled over — and I wanted more 💌
───♡─────────────
୨ৎ Overall:
This sequel was just as cozy, cute, and whimsically adventurous as the first — but with a bit more sparkle, at least for me. Maybe it was the setting (I'm such a castle girlie), but something about this one felt a little more immersive and rich, even if it still didn’t fully steal my heart.
All in all, this was a sweet little duology — wholesome, adventurous, and full of heart. Tricia is such a talented storyteller, and I love how she builds her worlds with care. While Blade of Secrets and Master of Iron didn’t become instant favorites, I’ll definitely be reading more from her. I just know she has another story out there that will light that spark for me again, just like Daughter of the Pirate King did.
xoxo, until the next book ✨🏰💖
「Bladesmith Duology」
#1 Blade of Secrets — 3.5 ✧
#2 Master of Iron — 3.75 ✧
📖 Book: Master of Iron
🖋️ Author: Tricia Levenseller
🌟 Rating: 3.75 ✧
💖 Genre: YA Fantasy (high fantasy / romance / magic)
📚 Series: Bladesmith
🌸 Summary: Ziva’s journey continues as she sets out to save her sister, pulling her into a world of magic, danger, new allies, and secrets that shake everything she thought she knew. This book dives deeper into her powers, her relationships, and the emotional walls she’s built — all wrapped up in a high-fantasy adventure full of heart.
♡ What I loved most:
• The castle setting: give me a sprawling high fantasy castle, and I’m happy. Tricia’s descriptions made it easy to sink into that world and just live there for a while 🏰
• New characters with abilities like Ziva’s: it made the world feel broader and more layered 🔮
• Higher stakes: this added tension and a sense of urgency that kept me turning pages 📖⏳
“I still have things to fight for. I can’t quit yet.”
✘ What I didn't love:
• The familiar plot beats: like the first book, the plot followed a fairly familiar path. It was comforting, but I was hoping for a twist or a moment that truly surprised me 🌫️
• The very slow romance: it was so. very. slow. I’m all for a simmer, but this one felt like it never fully bubbled over — and I wanted more 💌
───♡─────────────
୨ৎ Overall:
This sequel was just as cozy, cute, and whimsically adventurous as the first — but with a bit more sparkle, at least for me. Maybe it was the setting (I'm such a castle girlie), but something about this one felt a little more immersive and rich, even if it still didn’t fully steal my heart.
All in all, this was a sweet little duology — wholesome, adventurous, and full of heart. Tricia is such a talented storyteller, and I love how she builds her worlds with care. While Blade of Secrets and Master of Iron didn’t become instant favorites, I’ll definitely be reading more from her. I just know she has another story out there that will light that spark for me again, just like Daughter of the Pirate King did.
xoxo, until the next book ✨🏰💖
「Bladesmith Duology」
#1 Blade of Secrets — 3.5 ✧
#2 Master of Iron — 3.75 ✧
September 27, 2023
2.3 ⭐
A Decent Follow-Up, but Not Quite Captivating.
Firstly, I appreciated the author's skill in crafting a vivid and imaginative world. Levenseller's descriptions of the forge and the intricate process of bladesmithing were both fascinating and well-detailed. It was clear that a lot of research went into creating this aspect of the story, and it added depth to the narrative. The characters were also intriguing and well-developed, particularly the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and growth. Their personal struggles and challenges were relatable, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book.
However, the pacing of the story left something to be desired. At times, it felt like the plot meandered, and I wished for a more tightly woven narrative. Additionally, some of the plot twists were predictable, which took away from the element of surprise that I enjoy in a good fantasy novel.
Overall, "Master of Iron" had its moments of brilliance, with its rich world-building and compelling characters. However, the pacing and predictability of certain plot elements held it back from achieving a higher rating in my book.
A Decent Follow-Up, but Not Quite Captivating.
Firstly, I appreciated the author's skill in crafting a vivid and imaginative world. Levenseller's descriptions of the forge and the intricate process of bladesmithing were both fascinating and well-detailed. It was clear that a lot of research went into creating this aspect of the story, and it added depth to the narrative. The characters were also intriguing and well-developed, particularly the protagonist's journey of self-discovery and growth. Their personal struggles and challenges were relatable, and I found myself rooting for them throughout the book.
However, the pacing of the story left something to be desired. At times, it felt like the plot meandered, and I wished for a more tightly woven narrative. Additionally, some of the plot twists were predictable, which took away from the element of surprise that I enjoy in a good fantasy novel.
Overall, "Master of Iron" had its moments of brilliance, with its rich world-building and compelling characters. However, the pacing and predictability of certain plot elements held it back from achieving a higher rating in my book.
December 24, 2022
#1 Blade of Secrets — 4 stars
#2 Master of Iron — 3.25 stars
this was not as engaging as the first book. most of it had to do with the focus of the story which had shifted from adventure-based to the plain, old war & politics game where we had the MCs trying to save the kingdom from the clutches of their power hungry monarch.
i didnt realize what a great dynamic the four MCs had until they got separated. i missed the camaraderie and easy banter they showed in book 1. the romance also didnt feel quite as charming as before as i was annoyed by the h’s treatment towards the H and her sister.
i feel like she always misunderstood the Hs intention and kept thinking bad about him even though he did everything in her best interest. meanwhile, with her sister, she was protective to the point where it irked me that she dared telling her what she could and couldnt do.
i mean, the H & h did learn to communicate and the sisterly bond never wavered, but im just sayin there were some irritating moments. as for the plot, i honestly couldnt care less and have already forgotten the details. this was a fair conclusion. it was just not as fun.
(read as an audiobook)
#2 Master of Iron — 3.25 stars
this was not as engaging as the first book. most of it had to do with the focus of the story which had shifted from adventure-based to the plain, old war & politics game where we had the MCs trying to save the kingdom from the clutches of their power hungry monarch.
i didnt realize what a great dynamic the four MCs had until they got separated. i missed the camaraderie and easy banter they showed in book 1. the romance also didnt feel quite as charming as before as i was annoyed by the h’s treatment towards the H and her sister.
i feel like she always misunderstood the Hs intention and kept thinking bad about him even though he did everything in her best interest. meanwhile, with her sister, she was protective to the point where it irked me that she dared telling her what she could and couldnt do.
i mean, the H & h did learn to communicate and the sisterly bond never wavered, but im just sayin there were some irritating moments. as for the plot, i honestly couldnt care less and have already forgotten the details. this was a fair conclusion. it was just not as fun.
(read as an audiobook)
Want to read
October 22, 2021dear God do I need this book a s a p
August 20, 2022
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA
oh my gay
temra 💖💖💖💖💖
zivaaaaa uwuwu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
THAT COVER
I AM LEGIT SCARED
*strangled panic sounds*
2022 isn't far away. No its not
Its not like I'm crying here wondering what happened to my precious
Nope not at all
oh my gay
temra 💖💖💖💖💖
zivaaaaa uwuwu
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
THAT COVER
I AM LEGIT SCARED
*strangled panic sounds*
2022 isn't far away. No its not
Its not like I'm crying here wondering what happened to my precious
Nope not at all
December 2, 2021
Even though I read Blade of Secrets only five months ago, I'd already forgotten how it ended when I went to start Master of Iron. Luckily, the first chapter gives a good recap of where our characters are at in their journey, as this book begins right where the first one ended.
Bladesmith Ziva, mercenary Kellyn, and scholar Petrik are on their way to a magical healer to save Ziva's sister Temra, who is gravely injured. Also along for the ride is their captive, the villainous warlord Kymora. Some things happen and then most of the book is spent with Ziva and Kellyn alone together.
Ziva is so dense. It actually frustrated me how often something is so obvious and Ziva is acting like an idiot about it. For example, it is beyond clear that Kellyn likes her, and he even says so, and then when someone hits on him and he says he's spoken for, Ziva asks herself why he said that, who he's with, when did he have a chance to meet this person, what is she doing there if he likes someone else, etc. This type of conversation happens multiple times throughout the story. It just read as really immature to me because obviously, Kellyn likes Ziva and she's as dense as a brick about it. And then a girl will look at Kellyn and Ziva will ask herself why she's suddenly feeling jealous. Because you like him, you idiot! Duh! People don't ask themselves those questions about potential romantic partners in adult novels because they're usually written with more common sense, and as an adult, I was continually frustrated by it.
Unfortunately, the romance in this book didn't really work for me. It was so immature. I cannot count the number of times Ziva refers to Kellyn as stupid, dumb, idiotic, or a big oaf. She doesn't ever have anything nice to say about him. I know this was all supposed to be said in love or in good humor, but I never saw it that way. Ziva is constantly insulting him every time she talks to him or thinks about him. And maybe that's her way of not accepting her own feelings toward him, but I just wished she would be nice to him. She's irritated when he risks his life for her, she's mad she has to risk her life to save him, she often complains about him in her inner monologues, and all of it just frustrated me. Yes, they do kiss a lot, and yes, there's a happy ending, but I didn't like their chemistry in between those moments. Kellyn's cool but Ziva really got on my nerves.
Like I said in my review of Blade of Secrets, this duology reads young to me. I think it's just Tricia Levenseller's writing style, but I feel like this is a book for tweens, even though the protagonist is an adult. The drama, the romance, Ziva's internal monologues--it's all written in a way that is not relatable to me as an adult, and many scenes and conversations are very eye-roll-inducing. I do think younger teens will enjoy this story a lot more than I did. Unfortunately, I spent a good portion of the book wanting it to be over. It wasn't a bad story, but I know I'm not the intended audience here, and I wanted to be reading something with more depth and more mature characters than what we get in Master of Iron. Plus the writing is very modern for a story that's a medieval fantasy. One time Ziva and Temra are actually talking about going to the store for groceries. Um . . . no. There were many other examples of overly modern writing that felt very out of place in this narrative, and it bothered me.
Ziva has social anxiety, and I remember loving this aspect about the first novel as I, too, have social anxiety, and it was nice to relate to a character on that front. But somehow, in this book, I found myself dissatisfied with how her anxiety was portrayed. At times it felt overly exaggerated, and at other times it felt unrealistically underrepresented. For example, Ziva always has the right comeback at the right time and she verbally stands up for both herself and her friends. This is not something that someone with social anxiety should feel comfortable doing or even be able to do on a regular basis.
Speaking from personal experience, whenever I am faced with confrontation or aggression from someone who is not in my immediate family or one of my closest friends, I clam up. I have so many things I'd like to say but my heart is racing and I can't say any of them so I just sit there, terrified of opening my mouth, unable to defend myself no matter how much I want to. It's humiliating, frustrating, and embarrassing. So I find it unbelievable that Ziva does not often have this problem of being unable to speak up for herself during times of conflict, despite exhibiting other traits of social anxiety that would make me believe otherwise.
Thinking back on Blade of Secrets, I believe Ziva was like this in that book too as I remember her always having the right thing to say and being kind of bad-A. So that makes me sad, that only her inner monologue is relatable and representative of what it's like to have anxiety, while her outer actions seem to be like any other strong, female protagonist that is so common in literature these days.
This book is very fast-paced, sometimes moving so quickly that I didn't have time to care about the story's events before something else started happening. But on the other hand, the overall story felt too slow-paced for me, the characters being in one place for far too long and spending too much time on side tasks before getting back to the main storyline. I had this problem with the first book too; I struggled to gauge the passage of time in the narrative.
Overall, I struggled to read Master of Iron. I liked Blade of Secrets better, but its sequel had too many pieces that didn't work for me and made me not enjoy the story as much as I had hoped to, although I will say that I did enjoy the ending. I think the idea of a female bladesmith who is able to imbue her blades with magic and who has social anxiety is an awesome idea for a story, and while there were some good parts that I enjoyed, I ultimately just think that this duology reads too young and immature for my tastes and that Tricia Levenseller's writing style doesn't work for me. I do, however, encourage you to check this series out if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
Bladesmith Ziva, mercenary Kellyn, and scholar Petrik are on their way to a magical healer to save Ziva's sister Temra, who is gravely injured. Also along for the ride is their captive, the villainous warlord Kymora. Some things happen and then most of the book is spent with Ziva and Kellyn alone together.
Ziva is so dense. It actually frustrated me how often something is so obvious and Ziva is acting like an idiot about it. For example, it is beyond clear that Kellyn likes her, and he even says so, and then when someone hits on him and he says he's spoken for, Ziva asks herself why he said that, who he's with, when did he have a chance to meet this person, what is she doing there if he likes someone else, etc. This type of conversation happens multiple times throughout the story. It just read as really immature to me because obviously, Kellyn likes Ziva and she's as dense as a brick about it. And then a girl will look at Kellyn and Ziva will ask herself why she's suddenly feeling jealous. Because you like him, you idiot! Duh! People don't ask themselves those questions about potential romantic partners in adult novels because they're usually written with more common sense, and as an adult, I was continually frustrated by it.
Unfortunately, the romance in this book didn't really work for me. It was so immature. I cannot count the number of times Ziva refers to Kellyn as stupid, dumb, idiotic, or a big oaf. She doesn't ever have anything nice to say about him. I know this was all supposed to be said in love or in good humor, but I never saw it that way. Ziva is constantly insulting him every time she talks to him or thinks about him. And maybe that's her way of not accepting her own feelings toward him, but I just wished she would be nice to him. She's irritated when he risks his life for her, she's mad she has to risk her life to save him, she often complains about him in her inner monologues, and all of it just frustrated me. Yes, they do kiss a lot, and yes, there's a happy ending, but I didn't like their chemistry in between those moments. Kellyn's cool but Ziva really got on my nerves.
Like I said in my review of Blade of Secrets, this duology reads young to me. I think it's just Tricia Levenseller's writing style, but I feel like this is a book for tweens, even though the protagonist is an adult. The drama, the romance, Ziva's internal monologues--it's all written in a way that is not relatable to me as an adult, and many scenes and conversations are very eye-roll-inducing. I do think younger teens will enjoy this story a lot more than I did. Unfortunately, I spent a good portion of the book wanting it to be over. It wasn't a bad story, but I know I'm not the intended audience here, and I wanted to be reading something with more depth and more mature characters than what we get in Master of Iron. Plus the writing is very modern for a story that's a medieval fantasy. One time Ziva and Temra are actually talking about going to the store for groceries. Um . . . no. There were many other examples of overly modern writing that felt very out of place in this narrative, and it bothered me.
Ziva has social anxiety, and I remember loving this aspect about the first novel as I, too, have social anxiety, and it was nice to relate to a character on that front. But somehow, in this book, I found myself dissatisfied with how her anxiety was portrayed. At times it felt overly exaggerated, and at other times it felt unrealistically underrepresented. For example, Ziva always has the right comeback at the right time and she verbally stands up for both herself and her friends. This is not something that someone with social anxiety should feel comfortable doing or even be able to do on a regular basis.
Speaking from personal experience, whenever I am faced with confrontation or aggression from someone who is not in my immediate family or one of my closest friends, I clam up. I have so many things I'd like to say but my heart is racing and I can't say any of them so I just sit there, terrified of opening my mouth, unable to defend myself no matter how much I want to. It's humiliating, frustrating, and embarrassing. So I find it unbelievable that Ziva does not often have this problem of being unable to speak up for herself during times of conflict, despite exhibiting other traits of social anxiety that would make me believe otherwise.
Thinking back on Blade of Secrets, I believe Ziva was like this in that book too as I remember her always having the right thing to say and being kind of bad-A. So that makes me sad, that only her inner monologue is relatable and representative of what it's like to have anxiety, while her outer actions seem to be like any other strong, female protagonist that is so common in literature these days.
This book is very fast-paced, sometimes moving so quickly that I didn't have time to care about the story's events before something else started happening. But on the other hand, the overall story felt too slow-paced for me, the characters being in one place for far too long and spending too much time on side tasks before getting back to the main storyline. I had this problem with the first book too; I struggled to gauge the passage of time in the narrative.
Overall, I struggled to read Master of Iron. I liked Blade of Secrets better, but its sequel had too many pieces that didn't work for me and made me not enjoy the story as much as I had hoped to, although I will say that I did enjoy the ending. I think the idea of a female bladesmith who is able to imbue her blades with magic and who has social anxiety is an awesome idea for a story, and while there were some good parts that I enjoyed, I ultimately just think that this duology reads too young and immature for my tastes and that Tricia Levenseller's writing style doesn't work for me. I do, however, encourage you to check this series out if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.
My Book Blog: Storeys of Stories
October 22, 2025
3 stars
it's been a few years since i read this and don't remember anything about it tbh, i think it's a decent book but nothing outstanding thought the short chapters make it a fast-paced read. you can read my review for Book 1 which i wrote few years back for more details regarding the series.
Blade of Secrets Review-3 stars
Reviewed on 22nd October 2025
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
..........................................................
3.5 stars. A great sequel to the series, I loved it. BR with Nash and Madinah. 💕
RTC.
..........................................................
WE HAVE A COVER. AAAAH HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS BEFORE.
……………………………………………………
Don’t mind me, I’m waiting for this book. ♥️
it's been a few years since i read this and don't remember anything about it tbh, i think it's a decent book but nothing outstanding thought the short chapters make it a fast-paced read. you can read my review for Book 1 which i wrote few years back for more details regarding the series.
Blade of Secrets Review-3 stars
Reviewed on 22nd October 2025
DISCLAIMER-All opinions on books I’ve read and reviewed are my own, and are with no intention to offend anyone. If you feel offended by my reviews, let me know how I can fix it.
How I Rate-
1 star- Hardly liked anything/ was disappointed
2 star- Had potential but did not deliver/ was disappointed
3 stars- Was ok but could have been better/ was average / Enjoyed a lot but something was missing
4 stars- Loved a lot but something was missing
5 stars- Loved it/ new favourite
..........................................................
3.5 stars. A great sequel to the series, I loved it. BR with Nash and Madinah. 💕
RTC.
..........................................................
WE HAVE A COVER. AAAAH HOW DID I NOT SEE THIS BEFORE.
……………………………………………………
Don’t mind me, I’m waiting for this book. ♥️
July 29, 2022
tricia never fails at writing a 5 star book!! i devoured this in half a day and cried when i finished it LOL. the anxiety rep is very well written and so comforting! i don’t usually write book reviews but god this book was just so touching!! tricia levenseller i <3 you!!!
November 1, 2022
Nouvelle duologie YA Romantasy fav ❤️❤️❤️
September 23, 2024
War and mayhem continue in this sequel as magical weapons clash and nobility battle for more power as the dangerous warlord is hell bent on world domination. Ziva emerges stronger and in control of her anxiety. Levenseller does a brilliant job with her character development. Compelling duology with romance, action, strong female leads in healthy relationships with flawless male characters. Entertaining and epic conclusion to Blade of secrets
July 27, 2022
Kfndfajaksueii NEED. NOWWWW.
August 31, 2022
Before I begin raving about this book, and the whole duology altogether, I have to share its origin story. I recently met Tricia Levenseller on her tour for Master of Iron, and she shared her inspiration for this duology with magical weapons. When Thor forged his new axe in “Avengers Infinity War” she realizes she needed to write about magical weapons. Loving all things Marvel, and her books, she has completely won me over as a lifelong fan.
This series features a heroine that many of us didn’t know we needed.
Ziva is a talented and complex character. We learn of her ability to magic weapons that she creates with iron. In Master of Iron, Ziva is widely known for this ability and always being chased by people in power. Her primary mission is to get her sister to a magical healer before it’s too late. Along the way, she is thrown in to several battles that are not only physical combat with others, but also mental battles with herself. With severe social anxiety, Ziva successfully hid in her forge for years. Now that she’s exposed to love, friendship, and too many strangers, she is constantly fighting against her instincts to run and hide.
In Master of Iron, we’re taken through a wonderful progression of character for Ziva. It’s not that her anxiety is ever cured, it is a path of lessons that teach her better coping methods. Friends along the way learn how to best support her, and set her up in ways when she needs a good push. Kellyn is definitely key to her learning to trust herself, and make decisions that put herself first. It also helps that she finds him to be a nice kisser 😘 . Thank you to Tricia Levenseller for turning up the heat on their romance!
There is a lot more fighting amongst warlords, kings, and princes in this book. All throughout, Ziva hates hurting people but she knows it’s necessary. With each fight, she gets better while feeling worse. Ultimately what keeps her fighting against armies is the ever burning need to protect the people she loves most. Her magical weapons are being used against her friends, and it is the ultimate definition of bad ass when she reclaims new war hammers for herself. I won’t spoil what she names them, but it had me feeling like “yes queen!”.
Ziva is truly my favorite heroine ever written. Her struggles are person to my heart, as I raise a girl with anxiety. Ziva is the example that young readers need. She displays true inner strength being how we keep moving each day even if we’re carrying extra mental weights. She displays the bravery it takes to step out of your comfort zone sometimes, and survive the utter nervousness you feel on the inside. Ziva also shows that it’s ok to never be cured of a struggle, but rather shows how we can manage it, and keep moving forward. She’s the ultimate display of a survivor.
Thank you Tricia Levenseller for this masterpiece! It was so wonderful to hear you speak about Master of Iron during your book tour.
This series features a heroine that many of us didn’t know we needed.
Ziva is a talented and complex character. We learn of her ability to magic weapons that she creates with iron. In Master of Iron, Ziva is widely known for this ability and always being chased by people in power. Her primary mission is to get her sister to a magical healer before it’s too late. Along the way, she is thrown in to several battles that are not only physical combat with others, but also mental battles with herself. With severe social anxiety, Ziva successfully hid in her forge for years. Now that she’s exposed to love, friendship, and too many strangers, she is constantly fighting against her instincts to run and hide.
In Master of Iron, we’re taken through a wonderful progression of character for Ziva. It’s not that her anxiety is ever cured, it is a path of lessons that teach her better coping methods. Friends along the way learn how to best support her, and set her up in ways when she needs a good push. Kellyn is definitely key to her learning to trust herself, and make decisions that put herself first. It also helps that she finds him to be a nice kisser 😘 . Thank you to Tricia Levenseller for turning up the heat on their romance!
There is a lot more fighting amongst warlords, kings, and princes in this book. All throughout, Ziva hates hurting people but she knows it’s necessary. With each fight, she gets better while feeling worse. Ultimately what keeps her fighting against armies is the ever burning need to protect the people she loves most. Her magical weapons are being used against her friends, and it is the ultimate definition of bad ass when she reclaims new war hammers for herself. I won’t spoil what she names them, but it had me feeling like “yes queen!”.
Ziva is truly my favorite heroine ever written. Her struggles are person to my heart, as I raise a girl with anxiety. Ziva is the example that young readers need. She displays true inner strength being how we keep moving each day even if we’re carrying extra mental weights. She displays the bravery it takes to step out of your comfort zone sometimes, and survive the utter nervousness you feel on the inside. Ziva also shows that it’s ok to never be cured of a struggle, but rather shows how we can manage it, and keep moving forward. She’s the ultimate display of a survivor.
Thank you Tricia Levenseller for this masterpiece! It was so wonderful to hear you speak about Master of Iron during your book tour.
August 16, 2022
Love it. So I was not aware that this was a duology until after I FINISHED the book lol. But I was absolutely in love with this book. I purposely paced myself with this book so it wouldn't end too soon. It was such a fun magical adventure. And it had real fun Skyrim vibes. To the point that most of the towns in my head looked like Whiterun lol.
This is now my 3rd book by Levenseller and I think it's fair to say that I LOVE her writing. And I'll probably read everything she's ever read.
This is now my 3rd book by Levenseller and I think it's fair to say that I LOVE her writing. And I'll probably read everything she's ever read.
January 3, 2024
Is this the first time that Levenseller disappoint me?
Well, this does not live up to it's first book and please just let me cry in the corner.
I still love Kellyn but Zivia is um....... annoyink
Well, this does not live up to it's first book and please just let me cry in the corner.
I still love Kellyn but Zivia is um....... annoyink
August 5, 2022
Alright, let's pray that I remember what happened.
Update: I did.
Tricia continues to give such well-written epic fantasies and I absolutely love her for it. Master Of Iron was a great conclusion to this duology.
We pick up right where we left off in Blade of Secrets and it feels like no time has passed since we got that book. I was worried I would be a little lost and confused after having so much time pass between books but I remembered everything. Tricia clarifies a little here and there, but the story moves effortlessly from book to book so there is little room for confusion.
Ziva, Kellyn and Petrik are in a race to save Temra's life and to protect their own. There are forces around them that are ready to act and if they're not careful, they might get swept up in it. The problem is, they have no choice when the only way to save Temra is to walk into the middle of it.
The rescue mission to find the healer Petrik promised is a go, however, the new rescue mission seems to be getting Ziva and Kellyn out of harm's way.... among other rescue missions. Honestly, the entire book felt like rescue mission, after rescue mission.
None of which felt like too much or repetitive. Levenseller throws you right into the action and you don't want to come up for air until you know it's safe.
The writing is great. It didn't drag on a bit and I felt like the story itself rounded out very nicely. I loved that the girls revisited their roots and had a full-circle moment! It felt very whole and I cannot complain at all about it.
I will just continue to blindly add this wonderful woman's work to my TBR. It is no hardship.
I will say, although there is romance I didn't feel like it took a front seat in this story at all. I did love the couples though. Kellyn is :') and every time he calls her sweetheart I swoon.
Once again, I loved the mental health representation in a very fantasy-filled story. Even badass magical fighters are allowed to be anxious. Ziva was great at overcoming her own obstacles but I liked that she also worked through them with the reader. I was happy with how her character grew and what she became towards the end of Master of Iron.
Definitely one of my faves from Tricia. Can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
Update: I did.
Tricia continues to give such well-written epic fantasies and I absolutely love her for it. Master Of Iron was a great conclusion to this duology.
We pick up right where we left off in Blade of Secrets and it feels like no time has passed since we got that book. I was worried I would be a little lost and confused after having so much time pass between books but I remembered everything. Tricia clarifies a little here and there, but the story moves effortlessly from book to book so there is little room for confusion.
Ziva, Kellyn and Petrik are in a race to save Temra's life and to protect their own. There are forces around them that are ready to act and if they're not careful, they might get swept up in it. The problem is, they have no choice when the only way to save Temra is to walk into the middle of it.
The rescue mission to find the healer Petrik promised is a go, however, the new rescue mission seems to be getting Ziva and Kellyn out of harm's way.... among other rescue missions. Honestly, the entire book felt like rescue mission, after rescue mission.
None of which felt like too much or repetitive. Levenseller throws you right into the action and you don't want to come up for air until you know it's safe.
The writing is great. It didn't drag on a bit and I felt like the story itself rounded out very nicely. I loved that the girls revisited their roots and had a full-circle moment! It felt very whole and I cannot complain at all about it.
I will just continue to blindly add this wonderful woman's work to my TBR. It is no hardship.
I will say, although there is romance I didn't feel like it took a front seat in this story at all. I did love the couples though. Kellyn is :') and every time he calls her sweetheart I swoon.
Once again, I loved the mental health representation in a very fantasy-filled story. Even badass magical fighters are allowed to be anxious. Ziva was great at overcoming her own obstacles but I liked that she also worked through them with the reader. I was happy with how her character grew and what she became towards the end of Master of Iron.
Definitely one of my faves from Tricia. Can't wait for the next one!
Thank you to Edelweiss and Macmillan for the ARC in exchange for an honest review
November 26, 2022
Like the color of the cover but I still like book one’s cover design more.
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Just finished this first book and I already want this one now!
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Just finished this first book and I already want this one now!
August 16, 2022
"I can't live afraid of what might happen. All I can do is live."
This duology just gives me all of the fuzzy feels! I absolutely loved following Ziva, Kellyn, Temra, and Petrik on their adventures. Ziva and Temra's sister bond is so strong and I loved how they were both protective of each other. In this sequel, there is an even deeper dive into Ziva's anxiety and her inner monologue. This book did a really good job exploring how her character copes, and how their adventures really force her to overcome her fears. Kellyn was so patient and understanding with her, and I loved their partnership a lot. This is definitely a story that will stick with me for a long time!
This duology just gives me all of the fuzzy feels! I absolutely loved following Ziva, Kellyn, Temra, and Petrik on their adventures. Ziva and Temra's sister bond is so strong and I loved how they were both protective of each other. In this sequel, there is an even deeper dive into Ziva's anxiety and her inner monologue. This book did a really good job exploring how her character copes, and how their adventures really force her to overcome her fears. Kellyn was so patient and understanding with her, and I loved their partnership a lot. This is definitely a story that will stick with me for a long time!
December 23, 2025
EXCUSE ME, LEVENSELLER. GODDAMN IT, I LOVE IT SO MUCH. rtc
June 18, 2025
J'avais adoré le premier tome et j'avais donc hâte de retrouver les personnages et l'intrigue, surtout vu comment on nous laissait à la fin du tome 1. Bah, je dois avouer que j'ai moins accroché à ce tome là. J'ai autant apprécié l'évolution de Ziva et son personnage dans son ensemble, mais j'avoue que j'ai trouvé que l'histoire était limite un peu brouillon ? à la fois trop rapide et trop lente ? Je ne sais pas, il y a une vibe globale qui m'a freinée, sans parler de certains dialogues / personnages / situations qui m'ont paru étrangement amené.es ou construites. Vraiment, j'ai du mal à mettre le doigt dessus, mais ouais, dans l'ensemble, c'était un deuxième tome sympa mais pas transcendant. Je suis néanmoins contente d'avoir fini la duologie et il reste que c'est une saga sympa si on aime la fantasy avec des personnages attachants et une bonne vibes magie / enjeux politiques !
August 16, 2022
I often enjoy YA fantasy and I enjoyed the first in this duology. However the MC suffers with anxiety and actually this made me feel unsettled this time round.
August 7, 2022
I feel so seen by this duology. I absolutely love the anxiety rep in this story. Not all heroes have to be brave, adventurous and unafraid. Some might be just fine in their comfort zone.
And then there's Tricia Levenseller's writing. I don't know how she does it, but every time I pick up one of her books I find myself having read 100 pages without even realising. They are so easy to read, I'm sure her writing is the cure to any and all reading slumps.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.
And then there's Tricia Levenseller's writing. I don't know how she does it, but every time I pick up one of her books I find myself having read 100 pages without even realising. They are so easy to read, I'm sure her writing is the cure to any and all reading slumps.
A huge thank you to NetGalley and Pushkin Press for the e-ARC in exchange of an honest and voluntary review.
March 26, 2023
Overall Rating : B
"You're the biggest constant in my life. I want you to always be there."
I absolutely loved the romance and the sisterly love but the plot could've used some polishing up. Still a good duology to pick up!
"You're the biggest constant in my life. I want you to always be there."
I absolutely loved the romance and the sisterly love but the plot could've used some polishing up. Still a good duology to pick up!
August 4, 2022
I don't care what has to be done, or who I have to threaten, but if I don't have a third book in my hands in the next fifteen minutes... there's going to be a problem.
August 4, 2022
This one is a tough one to rate because I really enjoyed it, but it lacked the exciting fantasy feel from book one because it focused so much more on developing Ziva, Petrik, and Kellyn as characters.
Master of Iron picks up right where Blade of Secrets left off, so this is NOT a book that can be read as a standalone. And if you’re like me, I had to go back and reread they last few chapters of book one to refresh my memory.
One thing I absolutely loved in this story was how Levenseller further dives into Ziva’s anxiety and gives the reader unfiltered access to Ziva’s innermost thoughts and feelings. As someone who also battles with anxiety, it’s refreshing to see the care in which this topic is handled and that is not something to just be cured with magic. I also really enjoyed the closeness and interactions that Ziva and Kellyn shared especially when it came to how anxiety can affect personal relationships and feelings.
I do wish this story had more of a quest focus like book one did, however, this story really is a wonderful conclusion to this duology.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
Master of Iron picks up right where Blade of Secrets left off, so this is NOT a book that can be read as a standalone. And if you’re like me, I had to go back and reread they last few chapters of book one to refresh my memory.
One thing I absolutely loved in this story was how Levenseller further dives into Ziva’s anxiety and gives the reader unfiltered access to Ziva’s innermost thoughts and feelings. As someone who also battles with anxiety, it’s refreshing to see the care in which this topic is handled and that is not something to just be cured with magic. I also really enjoyed the closeness and interactions that Ziva and Kellyn shared especially when it came to how anxiety can affect personal relationships and feelings.
I do wish this story had more of a quest focus like book one did, however, this story really is a wonderful conclusion to this duology.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.
August 30, 2022
I liked the first book, this book however not so much.
August 12, 2022
Not quite as strong as book one, but still filled with action and romance and magic, this is a good ending to Levenseller’s newest series.
My main complaint is that I only had access to the audiobook instead of a hard copy or ebook, which made me read it much slower, and I think some characters/moments I would have liked better without the narrator’s vocal choices.
Overall, though, I definitely recommend this duology to teen fantasy fans!
My main complaint is that I only had access to the audiobook instead of a hard copy or ebook, which made me read it much slower, and I think some characters/moments I would have liked better without the narrator’s vocal choices.
Overall, though, I definitely recommend this duology to teen fantasy fans!
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